Elena is widely praised for authentic Italian cooking with wood fired dough, standout pizzas, and salads, and pastas such as mafalda al ragù and ragu are frequently noted as well executed; the vibe is described as chic, intimate, and lively with attentive service and a strong wine list, making it a popular spot for date nights, groups, and terrace seating when available. Some visits are described as exceptional with friendly staff and reliable recommendations, while others note inconsistencies such as pizzas arriving burnt or cold, portions that feel small for the price, long waits, and billing miscommunications. Reservations can be tight and seating at the bar or in busy times may be required; the atmosphere can be loud but the overall opinion is that Elena remains one of the top pizza and pasta destinations in Montreal, offering a reliable and memorable experience for many, though not without occasional misses.
Recommandé par des amis habitant dans le quartier, je suis allé en famille un soir de semaine visité l'établissement. Il est discret, j'ai dû regarder deux fois pour être sur que j'étais au bon endroit. On est en semaine, il est encore tôt, quelques clients occupent déjà la salle & à entre leur conversation avec les serveuses, je comprend qu'il y a quelques habitués & des touristes de passage. Le décor a du cachet, élégant, chic en plus d'être lumineux. L'accueil est courtois, le service attentionné. La carte est sobre, entrées, salades, pizzas, pâtes & desserts. La carte des vins & boissons alcoolisées est beaucoup plus fourni, c'est l'endroit idéal pour boire un verre entre amis, collègues & profiter de leur terrasse. Personnellement, j'ai pris la Mozza di bufala, épinards, miel épicé & sésame. J'ai adoré ! La pâte est à la fois tendre, croquante, un peu brûlé (on aime ça). Les pates valent le détour aussi. Les portions sont généreuses, je n'ai pas pris d'entrée, ni de dessert. Il va falloir revenir pour visiter à nouveau la carte !
I really enjoyed the Kale Ceasar Salad & the margarita pizza as well as the ragu pasta. The diavolo pizza I was disappointed by. The pastas are well executed!
Jan 31, 2026
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ORIGINAL REVIEW: Although most people seem to go for the pizza, I go for the salads. Always fresh, well composed & delicious. They may look like a medium sized salad, but trust me there's a lot in that bowl. Only attempt to eat one yourself if you're super hungry.
UPDATE: The loss of the back terrasse is sad. It was so much more pleasant than sitting in a terrasse in a reclaimed parking spot right next to Notre Dame St. Traffic.
The white shop towels are sure to cover any dark clothing with a pile of white lint balls.
What was a great kale Caesar now has an overly sharp dressing with way too much vinegar.
Waiting 45 minutes for a pizza on a Tuesday night just after 5:00 in an empty restaurant is an unacceptable attempt to run a bar bill.
I really wanted to like Elena, especially after seeing so many great reviews, but overall it fell a bit short for me.
We started with the kale ceasar salad, which was quite salty, probably from all that Parmesan, so maybe that's just how it's meant to be. For pizzas, we tried two. The Amatriciana wasn't really my thing, I didn't like how the flavours came together, so it might have been a bad choice on my part. On the other hand, the pizza Dany was an expected delicious surprise: the spinach & hot honey were delicious; the sesame seeds a nice touch.
That said, the dough on both pizzas was very good. The spicy oil, however, wasn't spicy at all, which was a bit disappointing. Maybe they have different versions, but the one we got had no heat.
One of us wanted a tea, but they don't offer tea at all. For dessert, I got a decaf latte to have with the cake, but it arrived way later, more than halfway through it. The cake itself, though, the hazelnut with the gelato…very good.
Service was another weak point. The wait for everything was long, & at one point, the waitress came to clean the table, but just quickly wiped around without actually picking any of the pizza crumbs, which felt a bit careless.
The place itself is beautiful, nicely dimmed lights & a great atmosphere visually, but the music felt too loud for this type of restaurant.
All in all, I guess it wasn't that bad of an experience, I definitely expected better given the hype. I might give it another try, but this visit didn't quite live up to expectations.
Great pasta & starters. Good spot for a quiet date for two. Dining room is a little tight for larger groups. I've been here a few times & have loved the food every time. Kale Caesar salad is a must.
Gorgée d'Amaro à 12$ (à peine une once), très bonne bouffe, mais on nous a averti qu'il fallait quitter dans les prochaines minutes, quand ça faisait moins de 2h qu'on était là.
2 bouteilles de vin, pain, entrée, une salade, une pizza & 2 plats de pâtes pour 500$. On est en mesure de s'attendre à plus de 15 minutes de préavis, non?
Nov 16, 2025
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This is our second time coming to Elena. We visited back in August for our anniversary. I requested Elena for my birthday dinner, my husband made a reservation & put dinning room in the comments section.
We arrived & was told they only had the bar, or one table available only for an hour. We decided to stay, & would just eat fast.
Ordered a salad, & two pizzas.
When our pizza arrived one was completely cold, & the other was room temp/ warm.
Not the hot fresh out the oven I was expecting.
I usually don't care for pizza, but had such a great time in August, that I asked to come back to celebrate my special day.
Not sure what happened tonight, but I'm extremely disappointed.
Elena is hands down the best restaurant in Montréal. When I moved back from Italy, I was craving real Italian food & nothing compared… until I found this place. It's the ONLY spot in the city that tastes truly authentic, just like in Italy.
Every dish is consistently delicious, the prices are super reasonable, & the staff are always so sweet & attentive. The décor feels chill & low-key, & if you pay attention you realize how beautiful it actually is. In the summer, the terrace & the park behind the restaurant make it even more special. So cozy! Even the music is always cool too.
Make sure to try the:
Suppli, bread with olive oil, meatballs, mafalda al ragu, agnolotti if you get the chance, margherita pizza & kale salad.
I've been coming here for 6 years straight & it never disappoints. Always my #1 pick in Montréal! Best restaurant ever.
Très belle expérience, l'ambiance tamisée est parfaite pour un date. La pizza Dany & la salade de kale sont vraiment délicieuses! La serveuse était très gentille & assez présente sans être envahissante, je recommande.
Aug 25, 2025
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Really lively restaurant. The food was top notch wow. I am most certainly going to crave that salad again. Even though I am full to the max I still took my leftovers as it makes me sad to part with such deliciousness.
This place is a must when in Montreal. The staff is great & the food is amazing. Had a pizza (of course) along with a salad & the meatballs. You have to have the meatballs *chefs kiss.
We kicked things off with a super fresh salad-light, crisp, & topped with a generous layer of shaved parmesan & herbs. Simple, but dialed in perfectly.
Then came the star: the Diavola 2.0. Wood-fired crust with that perfect leopard spotting, spicy soppressata, rich tomato sauce, & just enough heat to keep it interesting without overpowering the balance. Every bite hit.
The cocktail? Smooth, well-balanced, & paired great with the meal. & the vibe? Cool, modern, with the open kitchen adding just the right amount of buzz without being chaotic.
Elena doesn't just serve great food-it delivers an experience. Thoughtful, refined, & ridiculously satisfying. Already planning the next visit.
Heard lots of good things about this place from many different people. Food was good, but the service wasn't up to standard. Ordered 2 apps, a salad, a pasta & a pizza to be shared between 2 people. The apps came normally but the pasta then came super late, 10 minutes later the salad came, & by the time we were full from eating everything after waiting for so long, the pizza then came. No word from the servers.
Elena is incredible! We had no reseveration & it was quite busy but they explained that they have a takeout section & picnic tables in the back so that's what we did. We got the Kevin McAllister & the Fun Guy pizzas, as well as the kale cesar salad & some wine. Everything was incredible! I would highly recommend the Fun Guy pizza it was delicious. Really loved the outdoor picnic area, a great idea for a busy area. Will for sure go back!
Keal's Caesar salad is unbeatable, fresh vegetables, crispy croutons & delicious dressing, covered in Parmesan cheese... delicious.
Pizzas are very good with natural & fresh ingredients.
My first time here by recommendation of a coworker. Elena has an incredible menu. The food was excellent, we followed the advice of our waitress & ordered an entry of strachiatella carrots, then Kale Ceasar's salad, Danny Pizza. We got a great service despite the place was packed on a long weekend Friday night. Very nice & chic atmosphere.
